Improvement in knitting-machine



llutrll 51ans stent @with Letters .Patent N 94,904, dated September 14,1869.

R l l.

y IMPROVEMENT .IN-KNITTiNe-MACHINE.

The Schedule' referred to in 'these Letters` Patent and making part ofthe same.

To all whm itmay concern vented an Improved Knitting-Machine; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the annexed d awings, makingpart ot' this specilication, in vwhich Figure lisa view, partly insection and partly in elevation, ofthe tapering needle-cylinder, showingthe cam-cylinder in red outlines.

Figure 2 representspartial horizontal sections in lines x x and y yoftig. 1..

Figure 3 "represents similar sections on lines z z and w 'w of fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the cam-cylinder, showing thearrangement of the grooves in its interior surface. v

Figure 5 is a side elevation'thercof.`

Figure 6 is a plan or top view of the same,

`Figure 7 is a perspective view of the removable slide. e

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the machine, showing itsarrangement when doing large work.

Figui-e9 is a plan or top view of the, bed or frame in which theneedle-cylinder is to be held.

Figure 1() is a longitudinal section thereof.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the severaliigures.

My invention relates to that class of rotary knittingmachiues, in whicha circular series of latched needles, placed in vertical'grooves on theoutersurface of a stationary needle-cylimler, with buts projecting intogrooves formed in the inner surface of the cam-cylim der, is made toformthe stitches, by alternately elevating and depressing the needles asthe cam-cylinder is revolved; and myv improvements consist in provid inga tapering needle-cylinder and cam-cylinder, so

constructed and combined that the needles may be used at either end,andthus larger or smaller work be made on the sameA machine.

To enablethose skilled in the art to make and use my invent-ion, I willproceed to describe its construction and opera-tion.

A, in the drawings, represents the frame or bed, so

constructed that either end of the needle-cylinder may be firmly heldtherein. 1t is to be vclamped to the ledge of a table or stand by mea-nsof a clamping-de# vice, as shown in 10.`

B represents a tapering hollow cylinder, which may he made in twosections, to be tirmlypjoined together in any approved manner, for thepurpose of facilitating the formation of the vertical grooves on itsexterior surface,in which the needles reciprocate, said grooves on oneend not being in line with all in the other.

i spindle secured to the support 111.

These grooves are to be equal distances apart at either endof thecylinder, and their number is determined .by its circnmferences and thecharacter of the work to be performed by the machine.

Formed in the exterior surface are the horizontal grooves b and bl, forthe reception'of the guide-pieces holding the cam-cylinder in position,as also a depression, b2, where it is to be irmly--held by the framewhen the large end of the cylinder is to be used.

G represents the cam-cylinder or'shell, which is tted neatly on theneedle-cylinder, between the grooves band bl, so that each end'of thelatter pro# jects the proper distance therefrom. It is held in positionbythe guide-pieces c and c, which are semiannular' rings screwed toeach' end of the shell, after the same has been placed over theneedle-cylinder, and projecting into thegrooves b and b1 thereof'. Itsinterior arrangement diners-from that now incomincn use in rotaryknitting-machines of this description only in this respect, namely, thatits interior surface is tapering to lit over the taperingneedle-cylinder, and providedwith two cam-grooves, O1 and O2, for givingmotion to the needles, the former being used when operating with thesmaller end of the cylinder, and the latter' when larger work is .to hemade at the other end.

Sliding cams C `and C4 may be made to increase or lessen the sweep ot'the needles, and thus looser or tighter stitches be made, in theordinary manner.

The cam-cylinder is revolved by means of its handles c2, secured to itin any convenient manner.

I) represents the removable slide, which is to be placed in a spacebetween the semi-annular rings at either end of the shell, its guide dsliding in a dovetailed groove in the interior surface thereof, saidgroove extending from the top of the cam-cylinder at each end down toeach of the cam-grooves, and being of the same depth therewith. Byremoving this slide and bringing the groove successively opposite allthe lneedle-grooves, passages are opened, through which `the needles maybe inserted in, or withdrawn from the machine, affording a convenientmeans of changing the needles from'one end of the needle-cylinder totherother.

E represents the' yarn-carrier, which revolves on a This support is abent piece of iron, the ends of which are bent so as to form iianges. Itcan be attached at either end of the shell by means of set-screwspassing through slots in its tlanges .and screwed into the shell.

F represents the yarn-guide, which is also made detachable, and can bemounted on either end of the shell, as circumstances may require.

This machine is more particularly designed to make stockings, but avariety of other articles, such as under-shirts, childrens jackets,shawls, &c., may beV made on it, by makinga flat web with selvage, as inmaking the heel' or toe of stockings, with nearly all the needles, andthen uniting the pieces by hand. Its peculiar advantages for makingstockings are, that the large end or calf may `be made ou the large endof the machine, and the work can then be transferred to the small end tocomplete it, thus obviating, to a great extent, the objectionablenecessity of knitting looser and tighter at different stages of theoperation. Large stockings may be made on the .large end, and small onesat the' small end of the machine, by employing all the needles, andother sizes by removing every fourth, lifth, sixth, Snc., needle,narrowing being effected by lifting loops off some of the needles andputting them on those next by, and removing the empty needle.

Widening and narrowing may also be effected, to

some extent, by changing the sweep of the needles by means of thesliding cams.

Having thus described my invention,

What-I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A rotary knitting-machine, having atapering structed and operating asdescribed, so that a fabric may he knit at both ends of theneedle-cylinder, sub stantially-as and for the purpose set forth.

In. testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of twov subscribing witnesses.

J. MCGUNE.

W'itnessesz -W. W. GmsWoLD, H. E. ALTENBURG.

